Grease Interceptor Approval & General Industrial User Wastewater Discharge Permit: Austin restaurant guide

Austin Water — Industrial Waste (Pretreatment Program)

What it is

Austin Water must approve the size and design of your grease trap/interceptor, and food service establishments need a General Industrial User wastewater discharge permit.

When a restaurant needs it

All commercial food preparation businesses inside the City of Austin.

How to apply

Industrial Waste reviews your plumbing and utility plans during commercial plan review (ask intake to add Industrial Waste); submit the General Industrial User Wastewater Discharge Permit Application.

Documents you’ll need

Approved City of Austin utility plan (meters, sample ports, pretreatment device)
Plumbing layout with all fixtures
Grease trap sizing calculation
General Industrial User permit application

Fee

Discharge permit fee billed monthly on the City utility bill ('Monthly Discharge Permit Fee'); varies by classification

Processing time

Approval letter issued during plan review

Renewal

General Industrial User permits renew automatically each December

Who files

Sizing and plumbing plans by your engineer/plumber; owner signs the discharge permit application.

Good to know

Minimum 100 gallons; at least 500 gallons if you have a dishwasher. Do not buy a trap before you have building plan approval and the Industrial Waste approval letter specifying size and design.

Official source

Austin Water — pretreatment requirements · Austin Water — grease trap sizing & design

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.